Government announces $5m research fund for dust lung diseases

The research will look at preventing, detecting and treating occupational dust lung diseases including silicosis and coal workers’ ‘black lung’.

SILICOSIS AWARENESS: Bundaberg man Trevor wants to raise awareness for lung disease and promote the use of personal protective equipment in mines, quarries and plants.

A new $5 million research fund will help prevent, detect and treat occupational dust lung diseases including silicosis and "black lung".

The announcement follows the Queensland government initiating free lung health checks for life for the state's 15,000 mineral mine and quarry workers from September 1 last year.

"Every worker should be able to come home safely from work every day to family and friends," Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said.

"These lung diseases are preventable and have limited treatment options, particularly where a worker has advanced disease.

"That's why we committed at the election to fund research: to help prevent these diseases, to pick them up earlier in affected workers, and to find more and better effective treatments for affected workers."

SILICOSIS AWARENESS: Bundaberg man Trevor wants to raise awareness for lung disease and promote the use of personal protective equipment in mines, quarries and plants.

Ms Grace said the research funding built on the government's commitment to protect Queenslanders' health and safety, particularly across the coal mining and engineered stone benchtop sectors.

WorkCover figures show one in five Queensland stonemasons have silicosis with Gold Coast man Anthony White dying at age 36 in March, 2019.

Read more: World first treatment for deadly silicosis revealed in Queensland

Expressions of interest for the research are open at QTenders until June 14.

A panel of local, national and international health, safety, medical and research experts will assess the applications with successful bids announced by August.

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Originally published as Government announces $5m research fund for dust lung diseases